Soil Science Lesson Plans, Activities, and Science Standards

Lesson Plans

The lessons in this guide are intended to bring a students’ understanding of soil to life. To fully engage students in the topic, eachlesson includes three activities (Laying the Groundwork, Exploration, Making Connections), ideas for follow-up projects andactivities, and additional journal worksheets. Many activities can be conducted in either indoor or outdoor classrooms and with orwithout a school garden. (Note: A complete explanation of how to use the guide is included in the Download.) The lessons aresequenced so that the topics build on each other. However, the activities can be used independently, in any order. The

lesson plans include:

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Lesson 1The 411 on Soil

Lesson 2It's ALIVE!

Digging intoSoil

SummaryWhat is soil? Why is it important? Through this lesson studentswill be given an overview of soil and discover that healthy soilsare part of a larger system that is both complex and truly alive.They will explore why soils are critical to all life on Earth.

ObjectivesStudents will learn:

Soil is the top, thin layer of earth.

Soil is comprised of inorganic matter formed from thebreakdown of rock, along with decomposing organicmatter. It is also home to millions of living organisms.

Soil is key for growing food, cleaning water and air, andproviding a habitat for living organisms of all shapesand sizes.

Disruption of soil life can lead to devastating results.

Link to Next Generation Science Standards PerformanceExpectationsHS-ESS2-2: Analyze geoscience data to make the claim thatone change to Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that causechanges to other Earth systems. HS-LS2-1: Use mathematical and/or computationalrepresentations to support explanations of factors that affectcarrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales.

illustration © 2018 Rob Dunlavey

Summary

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Lesson 3In the Beginning

What lives in soil? Healthy soils are teeming with life, frommicroscopic bacteria and fungi to large mammals like molesand voles. In this lesson, students will explore the manyorganisms that call soil home.


There are millions of microbes, soil insects, worms,and soil fungi living in healthy soil.

Soil organisms help break down the organic andinorganic matter in the soil, providing nutrients forplants. In some cases, they also help with the deliveryof the nutrients to the plants.

Soils that are treated with excessive amounts offertilizers, insecticides, and weed killers may becomelifeless, decreasing their ability to sustain healthy plantgrowth.

Link to Next Generation Science Standards PerformanceExpectationsHS-LS4-5: Evaluate the evidence supporting claims thatchanges in environmental conditions may result in (1)increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) theemergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction ofother species. HS-LS2-2: Use mathematical representations to support andrevise explanations based on evidence about factors affectingbiodiversity and populations in ecosystems of differentscales.


SummaryWhere does soil come from? Students explore the origins ofexisting soil and how new soil is made.


Soil is formed through the breakdown of bedrock andother earth materials via climate and decomposition bymicrobes, fungi, and plants.

The kinds of plants and animals that contribute organicmatter to the soil as they decay impact thecomposition and appearance of soil.

Link to Next Generation Science Standards PerformanceExpectationsHS-ESS1-6: Apply scientiYc reasoning and evidence fromancient Earth materials, meteorites and other planetarysurfaces to construct an account of Earth’s formation andearly history.

Lesson 4Texturally Speaking


SummaryStudents will discover how soil texture is used to describesoils and group them into categories for practical application.


Inorganic soil particles are deYned by their size and arecategorized as sand, silt, or clay.

The proportion of sand, silt, and clay deYnes the soiltexture and can tell us a lot about the soil.

Different plants grow well in different types of soils.

Link to Next Generation Science Standards PerformanceExpectationsHS-ESS2-5: Plan and conduct an investigation of theproperties of water and its effect on Earth materials andsurface process. HS-LS2-2: Use mathematical representations to support andrevise explanations based on evidence about factors affectingbiodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales.

Lesson 5Sleuthing Soil Structure


SummaryWhat is soil structure? This lesson will provide an in-depth lookat how soil structure impacts its functionality.


Soil structure describes how all of the components inthe soil are arranged.

Soil structure is just as important as the materialscontained in the soil.

Healthy soil must also include adequate pore space,which can be Ylled with air and water.

Human activity frequently disrupts soil structure, whichimpacts the soil’s ability to absorb water and increasesproblems of stormwater runoff and erosion.

Link to Next Generation Science Standards PerformanceExpectationsHS-ESS2-2: Analyze geoscience data to make the claim thatone change to Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that causechanges to other Earth Systems. HS-ESS2-5: Plan and conduct an investigation of theproperties of water and its effect on Earth materials andsurface processes.

Lesson 6Horizons Happen

illustrations © 2018 Rob Dunlavey

SummaryThe movement of water, minerals, and organic matter withinsoil can lead to the formation of distinct layers with commonproperties. What can we learn from these soil layers, alsoknown as soil horizons?


Soils have different layers (horizons) and the layersvary in size and composition depending on the climateand vegetation present.

Exploring soil horizons can tell you about theenvironmental conditions in the area and how the soilhas been treated in the past.

Link to Next Generation Science Standards PerformanceExpectationsHS-ESS2-1: Develop a model to illustrate how Earth’s internaland surface processes operate at different spatial andtemporal scales to form continental and ocean-[oor features.

Lesson 7The Soil-Air Connection


SummaryWhat is the relationship between soil and the Earth’satmosphere? Students will explore the connection betweenwhat happens below and above the ground. They will learnabout the vital role soil plays in the carbon cycle.


Soil stores carbon and helps regulate atmosphericcarbon.

Soil provides nutrients and habitats to all life on land.

Link to Next Generation Science Standards PerformanceExpectationsHS-ESS2-2: Analyze geoscience data to make the claim thatone change to Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that causechanges to other Earth systems. HS- ESS2-6: Develop a quantitative model to describe thecycling of carbon among the hydrosphere, atmosphere,geosphere, and biosphere. HS-ESS3-5: Analyze geoscience data and the results fromglobal climate models to make an evidence-based forecast ofthe current rate of global or regional climate change andassociated future impacts to Earth’s systems.

Lesson 8The Soil-Water Connection

HS-ESS3-6: Use a computational representation to illustratethe relationships among Earth systems and how thoserelationships are being modiYed due to human activity. HS-ETS1-3: Evaluate a solution to a complex real-worldproblem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs thataccount for a range of constraints, including costs, safety,reliability and aesthetics, as well as possible social, culturaland environmental impacts.


SummaryWhat is the relationship between soil and water? Students willlearn about the vital role soil plays in the water cycle and itsimportance in keeping our water supply clean.


Soil is an important part of the water cycle and helpsclean our water supply.

Link to Next Generation Science Standards PerformanceExpectationsHS-ESS2-5: Plan and conduct an investigation of theproperties of water and its effect on Earth materials andsurface processes.

Lesson 9Leaving Our Mark on Soils


SummaryHow have humans impacted soils? Students will explore howhuman actions alter soil and investigate some of the negativeimpacts of human activity. They will also learn about ways wecan remediate damaged soils and rebuild new soils.


Throughout history, humans have not alwaysconsidered how their actions impact local soils,resulting in damage to soil systems.

Human actions can have signiYcant impacts on soilhealth.

Link to Next Generation Science Standards PerformanceExpectationsHS- ESS3-4: Evaluate or reYne a technological solution thatreduces impacts of human activities on natural systems. HS-LS2-7: Design, evaluate, and reYne a solution for reducingthe impacts of human activities on the environment andbiodiversity. HS-ETS1-1: Analyze a major global challenge to specifyqualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints forsolutions that account for societal needs and wants.

Lesson 10Save Our Soil

HS-ETS1-3: Evaluate a solution to a complex real-worldproblem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs thataccount for a range of constraints, including cost, safety,reliability, and aesthetics, as well as possible social, cultural,and environmental impacts.


SummaryHow can humans protect existing healthy soils? How canhumans improve soils? In this lesson, students will both learnabout and Ynd ways to share knowledge of how to protect thisimportant natural resource.


Spreading knowledge about soil is an important toolfor protecting existing healthy soils.

Soil experts are trying to improve soil throughout theworld in a variety of ways.

Think globally, but act locally, by Ynding ways to impactyour local soil through a remediation project oreducational outreach program.

Link to Next Generation Science Standards PerformanceExpectationsHS-ETS1-1: Analyze a major global challenge to specifyqualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints forsolutions that account for societal needs and wants. HS-ETS1-2: Design a solution to a complex real-world problemby breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problemsthat can be solved through engineering.

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HS-ETS1-3: Evaluate a solution to a complex real-worldproblem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs thataccount for a range of constraints, including costs, safety,reliability and aesthetics, as well as possible social, culturaland environmental impacts.


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Soil Science Lesson Plans, Activities, and Science Standards